Neck construction for a stringed musical instrument



Dea 24, 1968 J. c. cooKERLY I-:TAL 3,417,646

NECK CONSTRUCTION FOR A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed oct. 22, 1965 f/Ie I2 I7 Ie I3 V I9 2I 2 A I lll/IIT] l lo* 22 H PRIOR ART 2O 23 |=Ie.2.

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' INVENTORS f E JACK c. cooKERLY 36 f lG 4 34 BY GEORGE R. HALL ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,417,646 NECK CONSTRUCTION FOR A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Jack C. Cookerly, 7655 Atoll Ave., North Hollywood,

Calif. 91605; and George R. Hall, 13613 Huston St.,

Sherman aks, Calif. 91403 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,572 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-293) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical stringed musical instrument incorporates an elongated metallic plate immediately beneath the fingerboard and above the longitudinal center line of the rreck portion of the instrument. The plate is oriented to serve the dual purpose of absorbing compression to resist bowing tendencies of the neck portion and acting as a return circuit for current passing through the instrument strings.

This invention relates generally to musical instruments and more particularly to an improved neck construction for stringed musical instruments such as guitars, banjos, violins, cellos, and similar instruments.

In stringed instruments of the type under consideration, there are provided a plurality of strings positioned over `a finger board on the neck of the instrument. These strings are stretched to a fairly high tension. Because of the positioning of the strings above the neck and the securing of the ends of the strings to the tuning pegs at one end of the neck and to the body of the instrument after passing over a bridge, the tension in the strings tends to bow the neck into a concave arc. As a consequence, the level of the strings above the frets on the fingerboard increases slightly and more finger pressure is needed to play the instrument. In addition, the tendency of the neck to bow as a consequence of tension in the strings changes the overall lengths of the strings `and thus results in detuning of the instrument.

In order that proper playing of the instrument can be carried out, it is most .desirable to have the strings as close to the frets as possible so that as little motion normal to the longitudinal direction of the strings is necessary to position the string on a fret. On the other hand, the distance of the string from the fret must be such that adjacent frets are not also engaged by the string which can result in rattling when the string vibrates. It is thus desirable that the tingerboards and frets remain as parallel as possible to the strings Iand such positioning is defeated if the aforementioned bowing or arcing of the neck occurs as a consequence of tension in the strings.

Heretofore, the foregoing problem has been met by providing a tension rod or equivalent tension means in the lower longitudinal portion of the neck of a guitar or similar instrument. It will be evident that the tendency of the neck to bow will then simply place the rod in tension and thus the neck may 4be held in a fairly straight line position. On the other hand, proper filing of the frets cannot be carried out with the strings in position, and removal of' the strings removes the tension and thus causes a reverse bowing of the neck by the tension rod unless the tension rod is also loosened. As a consequence, adjusting of the frets is la long and arduous job since it involves removing the strings and loosening the tension rod, filing, then replacing the strings and adjusting the rod, and so forth. In addition, should the tension rod be off center by even a slight amount, the tension in the rod itself can cause a twisting of the neck.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved neck construction for a stringent instrument in which the foregoing problems `are overcome.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a neck construction such that the neck will rem-ain in parallel relationship with the strings and thus the fingerboard and frets mounted on the neck will be retained in parallel relationship with the strings throughout the length of the neck even though there may be considerable variation in the tension of the strings, all to the end that the desired features of having the strings properly spaced from the frets can he realized.

Another important object is to provide an improved neck construction which does not require any adjustment so that in adjusting the frets by filing with respect to thel strings, it is not necessary to loosen or disassemble any of the neck structure. As la consequence, the adjustment of the frets can be more rapidly carried out.

Still another object is to provide an improved neck construction meeting all of the foregoing objects, particularly adapted to electrical type instruments such as electric guitars, wherein certain components in the neck construction serve `additional functions, to the end that a greatly improved overall electrical instrument is provided.

Briefly, these and other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by avoiding the use of any type of tension rod and instead designing the elongated neck of the instrument with a recessed elongated cavity in its top surface within which is secured an elongated metal plate. The plate extends over substantially the length of theI neck and is disposed above the longitudinal center laxis line of the neck, preferably immediately beneath the fingerboard and frets. The plate itself is of a width greater than one-half the average width of the neck and is made of a light strong metal, such as aluminum.

With the foregoing arrangement, any tendency of the neck to bow or arc under tension of the strings is wholly prevented by the plate, the plate being simply placed in compression. Because of the relatively large crosssectional area of the plate distributed across the width of the neck, the neck is held substantially parallel to the strings even though there may be inordinately large tensions placed on the strings. In addition, there is no tendency for the neck to twist because of the relatively wide construction of the plate involved. Finally, there is no need to adjust the plate as required for the prior art type tension rods.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the metallic plate also serves the additional functions of conducting current from the strings when an electrical instrument is used to provide a common return and also tends to broaden the mechanical resonance curve of the neck itself.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

`FIGURE l is a perspective view of a prior art guitar;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-section taken in the direction of the arrows 2 2 of FIGURE 1 showing a prior art means for reducing neck bowing;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-section of a guitar neck constructed in accordance with the present invention; and,

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-section taken in the direction of the arrows 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown a stringed instrument which, merely by way of example, is illustrated as a guitar, including a body 10 and elongated neck 11. Strings 12 are shown extending between the conventional nut 13 and over the bridge 14 to the tailpiece or anchor 15.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated a finger- 3 board 16 with frets 17 disposed immediately beneath the strings 12. It will be clear from FIGURE 2 that if high tension is applied to the strings 12, the neck will tend to arc or bow upwardly as indicated by the arrows 18 and 19, thereby raising the level of the strings 12 fro-m the frets 17.

One prior art means for overcoming this problem is to provide a tension rod embedded in the lower portion of the neck 11 as indicated at 20. This rod is disposed below the center line 21 co-nstituting the longitudinal axis of the neck 11 and is secured below this center line as at 22 to the guitar body portion .and by a threaded stud 23 to the peg board structure at the end of the neck. Because of the threaded stud 23, it is possible to tension the rod to counteract the tension provided in the strings 12 so that when these tensions are in balance, the elongated neck 11 and fingerboard 16 will be substantially parallel to the strings.

In many acoustic guitars non-metallic strings are employed, such as gut, nylon, rayon, and so forth, and the tension in these strings to achieve a given pitch is considerably less than that required in a metal string or ferrous-type string employed in other acoustic guitars and in `all electric guitars. As a consequence, the problem of tension in the non-metallic strings of acoustic guitars tending to arc the neck is considerably less serious then is the case in electric guitars. Nevertheless, there is still involved the problem of properly readjusting the tension rod 20 when tiling the frets to adjust the distance between the frets and the strings properly.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is shown the irnproved neck construction of applicants invention as incorporated in an electric guitar. The guitar -itself includes a guitar body 24 having an elongated neck 25 extending therefrom to terminate in a peg head as shown. Metallic strings 26 are stretched between the nut 27 adjacent to the peg head and pass over the bridge 28 to be anchored at 29.

The fingerboard for the guitar of FIGURE 3 is shown at 30 including frets 31 properly positioned beneath the strings 26. There is also shown in the cross-section of FIGURE 3 a permanent magnet 32 for inducing currents in the strings 26 when the same are vibrated in the iield of the magnet. The induced current is taken from the individual strings by suitable connections 33 from the tailpiece 29. The construction of the permanent magnet and the electrical characteristics of the guitar may be as shown and described in applicants co-pending application Ser. No. 443,958, tiled Mar. 30, 1965, for Electrical Stringed Instrument, now Patent No. 3,325,579.

Further, the neck 25 may be designed with a weighted portion W in accordance with the teachings of applicants co-pending application, Ser. No. 308,871, filed Sept. 13, 1963, for Guitar Neck Construction, now Patent No. 3,212,384, to improve the acoustic properties by repositioning the node of the neck closer to the nut 27.

Similarly, the anchoring means at the tailpiece 29 and the bridge structure 28 may be made in accordance with applicants U.S. Patent No. 3,174,380, issued Mar. 23, 1965.

In accord with the present invention, there is provided above the center longitudinal axis line 34 an elongated metallic plate 35 secured within a recessed area 36 in the top of the neck immediately lbeneath the fingerboard 30. Since the plate 35 is disposed above the center line axis 34, the tendency of the neck to arc as described with respect to FIGURE 2 will place the plate 35 in compression. By using a high quality light metal such as aluminum, any such compression is negligible so that the neck is held straight.

The plate 35, positioned as described, also may conveniently serve as a return circuit for the various strings, the same being commonly connected to the righthand end of the plate as at 37, and the other end of the plate being grounded as at 38. In addition, by making the plate of lightweight metal such as aluminum, the speed of sound in the plate is slightly different from the speed of sound in the remaining portion of the neck 25 such that the resonance curve of the entire neck structure is broadened, all in accordance with the teachings in applicants co-pending application, Ser. N0. 308,871, now Patent No. 3,212,384.

With reference to FIGURE 4, it will "be evident that the width of the plate is considerably greater than half the average width of the neck 25. Also, the thickness of the plate is no greater than half the average thickness of the neck 25 so that the plate may be properly positioned above the center line axis 34 and thus placed in compression in response to tension on the strings 26.

By making the plate 35 of fairly wide width las shown in FIGURE 4, there is provided a sufficient cross-sectional area such as to inhibit any twisting of the neck as well as to insure against arcing of the neck when the plate 35 is placed in compression.

As a consequence of the foregoing construction, the neck is at all times held in a rigid relationship with respect to its longitudinal center axis and the frets will remain at a consistent distance from the strings, even though the strings have a relatively high tension thereon. Thus, the various objects and advantages of this invention outlined heretofore are fully realized by the present construction.

While the invention has been described with respect to a guitar, it will be evident that the principles are applicable to other stringed instruments incorporating elongated neck structures.

What is claimed is:

1. A guitar neck construction, comprising: an elongated neck `merging at one end from the body of said guitar and terminating at its other end in a peg head, the upper surface of said neck beneath the linger board for said neck having an elongated recessed area extending along said neck over a major portion of the length of said neck; and an elongated plate of lightweight -metal secured within said recess and of a length corresponding to the length of said recess, the width of said plate being greater than one-half the average width of said neck and the thickness of said plate being no greater than one-half the average thickness of said neck so that said plate is disposed above the longitudinal center axis line of said neck, whereby tension on the strings of said guitar places said plate in compression to resist bowing tendencies of said neck portion.

2. A neck construction according to claim 1, in which said musical instrument constitutes an electrical instrument in which currents are induced in said strings, the ends of said strings at the end of said neck portion all connecting to said plate so that said plate functions as part 0f a return 4circuit for current in said strings.

3. A neck construction according to claim 2, in which the speed of sound in said plate is different from the speed of sound in the remaining portion of said neck whereby the resonance curve of said neck is broadened.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 608,279 8/1898 Benson 84-293 2,101,364 12/1937 Dopyera 84-293 2,239,985 4/1941 Benioif Sli- 1.16 2,469,582 5/ 1949 Strong 84--293 3,035,472 5/1962 Freeman 84-1.l6 3,212,384 10/1965 Cookerly et al. 84-293 3,213,180 10/1965 Cookerly et al. 84--116 FOREIGN PATENTS 138,492 8/ 1934 Germany.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner. 

